Melissa's Story

“The day I woke up and had that MRI, I never thought in a million years that I would have a brain tumor,” Melissa Geiser recalls. The mother of three had suffered from migraines for most of her life, and her doctor had finally ordered an MRI. At first the results were inconclusive, even suggesting she had suffered a stroke. But she persisted in searching for answers and finally received a diagnosis, confirmed by specialists from across the country: a type of glioma called anaplastic astrocytoma. Because of where it was located in her thalamus, they deemed it inoperable.

Partner with Us

The Ivy Brain Tumor Center's collective efforts in clinical trials, basic science research, and patient outreach demand a team approach. We welcome everyone from the community of patients, caregivers, students, volunteers, health professionals, local organizers, sponsors, fundraisers, and more.

The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation

The Ivy Foundation, established in 2005, is the largest non-government organization supporter of brain tumor research in the world.

What is a Phase 0 Clinical Trial?

Phase 0 clinical trials are exploratory studies that accelerate and streamline the drug testing and approval process, allowing new drug combinations to be evaluated in patients in as little as seven days. Through this approach, a patient is given a single dose of the experimental drug before a planned tumor surgery. During surgery, our team collects and tests tumor tissue to determine if the drug is having an effect. Ultimately, Phase 0 clinical trials mean that patients, regardless of diagnosis, can have individualized treatment in a fraction of the time and costs associated with traditional drug research and development.